IPA Board of Director Elections 2026

Girgis Obaid
Academic/Researcher, University of Texas, United States

I’m an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Department of Bioengineering and have been working on PDT using nanotechnology since 2008 with Prof. David Russell at the UEA in Norwich. Since completing my training with Dr. Tayyaba Hasan at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine (Mass General Hospital & Harvard Medical School) in 2020, I launched my independent research program (https://labs.utdallas.edu/obaid-mion/members/). Given the opportunity, I would focus on bringing young researchers into the IPA and help them contribute with their own talents and passions for PDT.

Timothy C. Zhu
Academic/Researcher, University of Pennsylvania, United States

Timothy C. Zhu, Ph.D is professor of radiation oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. His research interests include PDT dosimetry, reactive oxygen species dosimetry, radiation transport, and image guided interventions. He is the associate director of PDT Physics, in charge of all PDT related physics aspect of PDT clinical protocols. https://www.med.upenn.edu/zhu-lab

Xuili Wang
Academic/Researcher & Practicing Clinician, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, China

Prof. Xiuli Wang, chief physician at Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital and doctoral mentor at Tongji University, is a leading expert in photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 30+ years of experience. She has published 370+ papers, developed major ALA-PDT guidelines, and led 23 research grants. As an IPA board member, she promotes global collaboration, training programs, wider access, and healthcare integration to advance PDT for cancers, infections, and inflammatory diseases, improving patient outcomes worldwide. To achieve these goals, we can develop comprehensive training programs, including workshops, fellowships, and online resources. To make PDT more globally accessible, we can promote the awareness, reduce costs, and advocate for its inclusion in healthcare systems worldwide.

Imran Rizvi
Academic/Researcher, UNC Chapel Hill/NC State, United States

I am an Associate Professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC–Chapel Hill and NC State, with 25+ years in PDT and photobiology. The IPA is deeply meaningful to me, beginning with my first international talk at its 1998 Congress. I now serve on its Board and key committees. I have authored 67 papers and 6 book chapters focused on PDT, optics, and cancer targeting. I am a Council Member of the American Society for Photobiology (ASP), Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Pan-American Photodynamic Association, and Chair of the ASP Awards Committee, among others. I hold a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, an M.S. in Tumor Biology from the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University, and a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University. With prior faculty roles at Harvard/MGH and long-standing service in ASP and other societies, I look forward to continuing to support and advance the global PDT community through the IPA.

Mans Broekgaarden
Academic/Researcher, National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), France

I am a tenured principal investigator of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) working at the Grenoble-Alpes University. I completed my PhD at the University of Amsterdam and was a post-doc in the group of Tayyaba Hasan at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine. My aim as an IPA board member is to promote international collaborations and funding applications within the academic/clinical/industrial members of the IPA community.

Blassan George
Academic/Researcher, Laser Research Centre, South Africa

Prof. Blassan George is an NRF Y1-rated research Professor at the Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. His research focuses on PDT, particularly the development and use of natural photosensitisers for cancer treatment. He coordinates Phyto-PDT Niche at the centre, fostering interdisciplinary research. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles (Scopus h-index 26). He is actively involved in postgraduate supervision, undergraduate teaching and serves on various academic committees.

Huang-Chiao (Joe) Huang
Academic/Researcher, University of Maryland, United States

I am a tenured principal investigator of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) working at the Grenoble-Alpes University. I completed my PhD at the University of Amsterdam and was a post-doc in the group of Tayyaba Hasan at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine. My aim as an IPA board member is to promote international collaborations and funding applications within the academic/clinical/industrial members of the IPA community.

Srivalleesha Mallidi
Academic/Researcher, Tufts University, United States

I am an Associate Professor working on image-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT), combining novel optical/acoustic imaging and nanotech for improved dosimetry. A 2019 IPA Rising Star awardee, I serve on the SPIE PDT conference committee. I aim to boost IPA visibility and member recruitment by expanding outreach and promoting the value of our society.

Daniel Teh
Academic/Researcher, National University of Singapore, Singapore

My research focuses on newer technologies in PDT, making it wireless, or ultra-sensitive photosensitization. I am also broadening the application on PDT in disease modelling apart from therapy. Coming and based at South East Asia, my immediate goal is to promote the association and PDT in this region, including Oceania, to garner more interest and adoption. Adoption include clinical translation and also building infrastructure as platform for researchers in these area to develop or being PDT research. www.danieltehlab.com

Felix Lopez Lopez
Practicing Physician, Venezuela

I am a medical surgeon who has specialized in regenerative medicine for 14 years, specifically in the use of stem cells in various clinical pathologies. For the past 3 years, I have been studying photodynamics and various photosensitizers. I am currently conducting an oncology program with photodynamic chemotherapy and photoimmunotherapy, conducting monitoring and analysis in various types of cancer. I want to make a contribution to humanity through the use of photodynamics in cancer.

Shi Lei
Academic/Researchers, Practicing Physician, Tongji University, China

Dr. Shi Lei, with PhD, MD, trained at Tongji University and LMU Munich and now directs Dermatology at Huadong Hospital, Fudan University. He has advanced ALA-PDT through innovation, clinical expansion, and research, treating 2,000+ patients and publishing 100+ papers. He helped found China’s Photodynamic Committee and has promoted IPA engagement. As a newly nominated Young Board Member, he aims to drive PDT progress and inspire young scholars globally. He will continue to promote the development of photodynamic therapy in China, facilitate photodynamic exchanges worldwide, and especially encourage young scholars to develop their love for and make contributions to photodynamic therapy and the IPA.

Janusz Dabrowski
Academic/Researcher, Jagiellonian University, Poland

Prof. Janusz Dabrowski earned his MSc and PhD at Jagiellonian University, followed by research training at the University of Coimbra. Since 2018 he has been an independent researcher, later promoted to associate and then full professor. His work advances porphyrin and phthalocyanine complexes for antimicrobial and anticancer PDT, PDT–immunotherapy combinations, and nanomaterials against drug-resistant bacteria. He has published 70+ papers with 4,500+ citations and an h-index of 39. His research focuses on design, physicochemical characterization, and biological evaluation of novel porphyrin and phthalocyanine metal complexes for antimicrobial and anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT), combination of PDT with immune checkpoint inhibition, particularly targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in cancer immunotherapy, and development of nanostructured materials for photodynamic inactivation of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Stuart Marcus
Healthcer Industry / Biotech / Pharma, SonALAsense, United States

Physician (Oncologist)-Scientist (Biochemist) who led the clinical commercial development team for Lederle labs working with QLT. I led the team which designed and executed the Phase III clinical trials leading to FDA and European marketing approval of Photofrin + laser + fiber optics PDT. As founding CSO and CMO of DUSA Pharmaceuticals, I was responsible for the clinical and preclinical development of topical ALA PDT (Levulan Kerastick + BLU-U light source) which was FDA-approved in 1999 and is in thousands of dermatologists offices and treated over 5 million patients to date for actinic keratoses. Go to www.levulan.com to find a treating physician near you. Currently developing sonodynamic therapy where photons are produced via sonoluminescence (cavitating ultrasound) to activate ALA PDT. noninvasively.

Jiro Akimoto
Clinician, Tokyo Medical University, Japan

Dr. Jiro Akimoto is Professor of Neurosurgery at Tokyo Medical University and Vice President and Director of Neurosurgery at Kohsei Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo. He earned his M.D. (1986) and D.M.Sci. (1993) from Tokyo Medical University, with specialized training in neuropathology at the University of Tokyo. Board-certified in neurosurgery, stroke, cancer therapy, and laser medicine, his research focuses on brain tumor treatment and photodynamic therapy. A recipient of numerous honors, including the 2024 World Biophotonics Research Award, he serves on several editorial boards.

David Smith
Healthcer Industry / Biotech / Pharma, Norway

Frustrated by the slow clinical adoption of PDT, I'm taking the initiative to change this in low-resource countries where the need is greatest. I'm working with governments and NGOs to implement hospital PDT across all relevant indications, adding value through AMR and microbe detection to exploit the synergy. Though not an academic, I understand PDT's clinical potential and the work of IPA members. Using my commercial expertise, I aim to get PDT into clinical use for patients everywhere—combatting restrictions, big pharma opposition, and resistance from AMR experts. I engage through WHO meetings, international exhibitions, and ongoing contact with global authorities. Board membership would be a valuable incentive.